But the Director of Recreation and Parks insists the move wasn't to kill the kids' fun. It comes down first to safety.

"The goal of the surface is to be that absorption for falls," said Alan McKnight. "The sand gets kind of hard and packed down."

Cost is another factor.

"It's also more expensive to maintain. We don't have a supply of sand, we have to go out and buy it," said McKnight. "Fortunately, because of our forestry division, we have an endless supply of wood chips. We remove trees on a regular basis."

Cheap and available. Parents get it but they also get it that the kids are disappointed.

"I guess they had to do what they had to do," said grandmother Cecilia Spahr.

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